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Tip of the day

Updated March 30, 2011 12:01 a.m. ET

Don't look now, but there's a title race going on in Serie A.

In recent years, few things have been as predictable as the Italian championship: Inter Milan won the last five scudetti by an average of nearly nine points and the only suspense at this stage of the season was when to schedule the victory parade.

But with eight games left in the season, AC Milan is just two points ahead of archrival Inter at the top of the standings and its five-month hold on the top spot could come to an end Sunday when the two kick off in a derby game that may go a long way to deciding the championship.

Not long ago, Inter's challenge was written off as it entered the winter break 13 points adrift of Milan. But since appointing former Milan head coach Leonardo on Dec. 26, the team has won 14 of its 19 games. That streak helps to explain why Inter is 17/10 to win Sunday's match, whereas Milan will kick off as a 15/8 underdog despite being classified as the home team here (both teams share the San Siro stadium). The draw is offered at 21/10.

Milan prevailed in this fixture in November, ending a run of three consecutive Inter wins in the rivalry, but normal service is likely to be resumed Sunday. Milan has claimed just one point in its last two games and will be without leading scorers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexandre Pato. A win would take Inter a point clear at the division's summit and its odds of winning another title will likely shorten considerably from the 6/4 currently available on Betdaq.